Liverpool professor leads research into lost species of human skeleton

A composite skeleton of Homo naledi surrounded by some of the hundreds of other fossil elements displayed in Magaliesburg, South Africa, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015. Scientists say they’ve discovered a new member of the human family tree, revealed by a huge trove of bones in a barely accessible, pitch-dark chamber of a cave in South Africa, showing a surprising mix of human-like and more primitive characteristics. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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A Liverpool professor is helping to lead research into the fossilised remains of a species of ancient human, after a treasure trove of 1,500 bones were discovered inside a South African cave.

Professor Joel Irish, a forensic anthropologist at John Moores University, is part of an international team of scientists analysing the remains, which belong to the previously unknown “Homo Naledi” species.

The new species are part of the genus Homo, to which modern humans - Homo Sapiens - also belong.

Professor Irish told the ECHO: “The bones were first discovered two years ago and I flew out to Johannesburg last summer to join the project investigating them. There were about 30 of us in total and we all worked together in a really exciting atmosphere.

“My team focussed on the teeth, which are so important because they have a very high genetic component. They can be studied to discover what the hominins ate, the ages of individuals and, most importantly, how closely related hominins species are to modern humans.

Lost species of human

“This research all helps me to address the ‘big picture’ in anthropology and a common question by students, where did we ultimately come from?”

In total, 15 skeletons were discovered in the cave, representing the largest ever discovery of hominin fossils on the continent of Africa. Professor Irish added: “The fact that so many bodies were found in this cave is what makes the discovery so exciting. There could be many, many more remains of individuals elsewhere in the cave.”

It is not yet known why the bones came to rest in the remote chamber of a large South African cave, but researchers are looking into the possibility that the “Homo Naledi” may have buried their own dead, a behaviour previously thought to be limited to modern humans.

Scientists remain unsure about when Homo Naledi were alive.

Professor Irish explained: “We’re in the process of different methods of research to put a date on when this species lived on earth. It is difficult because some parts of the remains are very primitive whereas other aspects are more similar to modern humans.”